AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's matched its season-high 11 for the third time this season, recording it in fewer sets than the previous two times in a three-set victory over the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds (25-19, 25-13, 25-22).
Setter Jaidan LaVanway used the serve as a weapon in the first set, sparking an early 5-0 run with three consecutive aces and a fourth serve that put the Greyhounds so far out of system it resulted in an attack error, giving the Hilltoppers a 9-5 lead.
Eastern New Mexico's Deziree Flowers rallied her team with four kills on five attacks. Still, the Hilltoppers deployed a balanced attack set by
JORDAN CHAPMAN to get multiple kills from five different hitters on a .290 hitting percentage to take the first set.
LaVanway kept Eastern New Mexico off-balance with three more aces in the second set, recording three of St. Edward's final four points with aces, including the final point to clinch the set and give St. Edward's a 2-0 lead.
KELLI FORDING supplemented the serves with four kills on seven attacks for a .571 hitting percentage in the set.
Eastern New Mexico jumped to a 6-0 lead to start the third set, but the Hilltoppers slowly chipped away at that advantage, reeling off a 9-0 run with
JAZZY WILLIAMS recording a pair of Aces and a few Greyhound errors. Mikaela Garvin was efficient for ENMU, with five kills on seven attacks. Still, the Hilltoppers turned to a balanced attack with six different hitters recording kills and
SARAH KONOVODOFF recording 10 of her 20 digs, turning away multiple booming shots, which the Hilltoppers quickly turned into an advantage.
Four Hilltoppers recorded at least seven kills, led by
LAUREN SCOTT's nine on a .207 hitting percentage. Fording contributed eight kills on a .278 clip with three block assists and a solo block, and
ADDY BADLEY and
LOURDES GOMEZ had seven kills each, with the latter hitting .375.
St. Edward's improves to 7-11 with a 3-3 conference record after the win. The Hilltoppers will host St. Mary's on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m.
